KwaZulu-Natal and Durban’s marine industry in spotlight at African Boating Conference
North Beach Pier, Durban, South Africa. Image courtesy of Marlin Clark.
Durban and KwaZulu-Natal’s potential to expand their role in South Africa’s marine economy will take centre stage at the African Boating Conference in Cape Town next month. Captain Londy Ngcobo, maritime business leader at Womaritime Experts, is set to deliver an address exploring the region’s growth trajectory, examining how local marine businesses can connect more effectively with broader African and international markets.
The African Boating Conference takes place in Cape Town on 20–21 October 2026, when Ngcobo will examin how KwaZulu-Natal (a province of South Africa) marine industry is responding to shifting international trade dynamics, changing supply chains and evolving customer markets, while identifying where the strongest opportunities for future growth may lie.
Durban marine industry: navigating trade shifts and regional opportunities
Titled ‘Industry Development in KwaZulu-Natal’, the presentation will provide delegates with a practical assessment of where Durban’s marine sector stands today and what will be required to strengthen the region’s position as a marine industry hub within South Africa and the wider Indian Ocean region.
Ngcobo (pictued left) brings more than 18 years of maritime experience to the discussion. A former ship navigational officer and Africa’s first female dredge master, her career has included working with global shipping company Maersk, undertaking advanced dredging experience through IHC in the Netherlands and serving as Executive Maritime Compliance Manager for South Africa’s National Ports Authority.
Today her work increasingly focuses on strategies, leadership and initiatives aimed at unlocking Africa’s blue economy potential.
At the African Boating Conference, Ngcobo will examine the marine businesses, capabilities and expertise already established in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal, alongside the economic and structural challenges that may be constraining further development.
Central to the discussion will be the question of where the next growth markets will come from.
Changing international trade conditions, tariffs, exchange rates and global supply chains are creating both challenges and opportunities for manufacturers and marine businesses. The session will consider how Durban-based companies can respond and which domestic, African and international markets offer the strongest potential.
Opportunities across boatbuilding, manufacturing, repair and refit, servicing, marine tourism and supply-chain participation will form part of the discussion, together with the role of Durban’s port, waterfront and wider marine infrastructure in supporting future industry development.
Connecting Durban with international marine networks
An important part of the conversation will be the growing international collaboration between Durban and Italian marine industry organisation Navigo, and the potential for this relationship to connect KwaZulu-Natal businesses more closely with established international marine and superyacht networks.
The discussion will explore how international relationships of this kind could translate into practical opportunities through knowledge and skills transfer, international partnerships, refit and repair work, supply chain participation, investment and access to new markets.
The focus will be firmly on commercial outcomes: how can international engagement translate into tangible opportunities for local manufacturers, suppliers, service providers and other marine businesses?
Ngcobo will also examine what may currently be limiting investment and expansion within the sector and where stronger collaboration between industry, government, ports, tourism and investment agencies could help create a more enabling environment for growth.
Her experience gives her a distinctive perspective on that challenge. Beyond her operational maritime career, Ngcobo has contributed to international maritime discourse through organisations and platforms including Mercy Ships, the International Maritime Organization and World Maritime University, Blue Invest Africa, Ocean Innovation Africa etc
The KwaZulu-Natal discussion forms part of a broader African Boating Conference programme focused on strengthening Africa’s participation in the international recreational marine and maritime economy.
Bringing together marine businesses, boatbuilders, manufacturers, government, investors, marina and waterfront interests, service providers and international industry stakeholders, the conference will examine where Africa already has competitive capability and where collaboration, investment and market access could unlock further growth.
